Portable football field goal post and methods

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure provides a portable football field goal post and methods of making and using the same. A portable American football field goal post comprises: a left vertical crossbar, a right vertical crossbar, a top horizontal crossbar, a vertical gooseneck post, and a base.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 63/296,730, filed on Jan. 5, 2022, the teaching of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention generally relates a portable football field goal post in American football (“here after referred to as “football”) and methods of making and using the same.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Background information related to the present disclosure as described herein may not constitute prior art.

Football field goal posts are generally a fixture of a football field, which makes it unavailable in non-football field settings, e.g., in a backyard of home or elementary school yard. On the other hand, football is a popular sports game. A kicker of field goals plays a key role in scoring of a football game as many football games are decided by a field goal in the last seconds of a game. Unavailability of convenient football field goal posts makes it hard to develop qualified kickers from a young age population.

To address this issue, portable field goal posts are made. Such portable field goal posts have a straight vertical post and generally small in dimensions, making it unsatisfactory as a training tool for field goal kicking skill training and development. Additionally, a portable field goal post with a vertically straight post generally lacks stability upon an impact, e.g., wind or push by a player, which could lead to fall of the field goal post, creating a degree of risk of injury.

As such, there is a need for field goal posts that is convenient and readily accessible to young age children but more stable and safer.

The embodiments described below address such issues or problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present disclosure, it is provided a portable American football field goal post (the “football field goal post”), comprising:

a left vertical crossbar, a right vertical crossbar, a top horizontal crossbar, a vertical gooseneck post, and a base.

In some embodiments of the disclosure, optionally in combination with any or all embodiments of the disclosure, the left vertical crossbar is connected to the top horizontal crossbar via a left elbow fitting, the right vertical crossbar is connected to the top horizontal crossbar via a right elbow fitting, the top horizontal crossbar is connected to the vertical gooseneck post via a T-fitting, and the vertical gooseneck post is attached to the base via base fasteners.

In some embodiments of the disclosure, optionally in combination with any or all embodiments of the disclosure, the base comprises a top base and a bottom base, the top base and the bottom base are configured to have a shape of a cross, the top base and the bottom base are perpendicular to each other with one of the top base or bottom base being in parallel with the top horizontal crossbar and the top base and the bottom base each are perpendicular to the vertical gooseneck post.

In some embodiments of the disclosure, optionally in combination with any or all embodiments of the disclosure, the base comprises three or four anchoring points configured to touch a ground or configured to be driven into a ground.

In some embodiments of the disclosure, optionally in combination with any or all embodiments of the disclosure, the left vertical crossbar and the right vertical crossbar comprise vertical pipes, the left vertical pipe being capped with a left pipe cap and the right vertical pipe being capped with a right pipe cap.

In some embodiments of the disclosure, optionally in combination with any or all embodiments of the disclosure, the left elbow fitting and the right elbow fitting further comprise fitting fasteners.

In another aspect, it is provided a method of fabricating a portable American football field goal post (the “football field goal post”), the method comprising:

providing a left vertical crossbar, a right vertical crossbar, a top horizontal crossbar, a vertical gooseneck post, and a base, and

forming the football field goal post.

In some embodiments of the method of disclosure, optionally in combination with any or all embodiments of the disclosure, the left vertical crossbar is connected to the top horizontal crossbar via a left elbow fitting, the right vertical crossbar is connected to the top horizontal crossbar via a right elbow fitting, the top horizontal crossbar is connected to the vertical gooseneck post via a T-fitting, and the vertical gooseneck post is attached to the base via base fasteners.

In some embodiments of the disclosed method, optionally in combination with any or all embodiments of the disclosure, the base comprises a top base and a bottom base, the top base and the bottom base are configured to have a shape of a cross, the top base and the bottom base are perpendicular to each other with one of the top base or bottom base being in parallel with the top horizontal crossbar and the top base and the bottom base each are perpendicular to the vertical gooseneck post.

In some embodiments of the disclosed method, optionally in combination with any or all embodiments of the disclosure, the base comprises three or four anchoring points configured to touch a ground or configured to be driven into a ground.

In some embodiments of the disclosed method, optionally in combination with any or all embodiments of the disclosure, the left vertical crossbar and the right vertical crossbar comprise vertical pipes, the left vertical pipe being capped with a left pipe cap and the right vertical pipe being capped with a right pipe cap.

In some embodiments of the disclosed method, optionally in combination with any or all embodiments of the disclosure, the left elbow fitting and the right elbow fitting further comprise fitting fasteners.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the disclosed portable football field goal post.

FIGS. 2A-2D show another embodiment of the disclosed portable football field goal post (FIG. 2A) with a side view (FIG. 2B), a front view (FIG. 2C), and a top view (FIG. 2D).

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the disclosed portable football field goal post deployed at a school yard field.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Definitions

As used herein, the term “anchoring area” refers to the total area covered by the base of the portable football field goal post disclosed herein.

As used herein, the term “gooseneck post” refers to a rising up post that is configured to have a shape of gooseneck in which a relatively straight rising up coupled by a hanging top end. The hanging top end can be straight or curved, with our without an angle relative to the horizontal level.

Portable Football Field Goal Post

In one aspect of the present disclosure, it is provided a portable American football field goal post (the “football field goal post”), comprising:

a left vertical crossbar, a right vertical crossbar, a top horizontal crossbar, a vertical gooseneck post, and a base.

In some embodiments of the disclosure, optionally in combination with any or all embodiments of the disclosure, the left vertical crossbar is connected to the top horizontal crossbar via a left elbow fitting, the right vertical crossbar is connected to the top horizontal crossbar via a right elbow fitting, the top horizontal crossbar is connected to the vertical gooseneck post via a T-fitting, and the vertical gooseneck post is attached to the base via base fasteners.

In some embodiments of the disclosure, optionally in combination with any or all embodiments of the disclosure, the base comprises a top base and a bottom base, the top base and the bottom base are configured to have a shape of a cross, the top base and the bottom base are perpendicular to each other with one of the top base or bottom base being in parallel with the top horizontal crossbar and the top base and the bottom base each are perpendicular to the vertical gooseneck post.

In some embodiments of the disclosure, optionally in combination with any or all embodiments of the disclosure, the base comprises three or four anchoring points configured to touch a ground or configured to be driven into a ground.

In some embodiments of the disclosure, optionally in combination with any or all embodiments of the disclosure, the left vertical crossbar and the right vertical crossbar comprise vertical pipes, the left vertical pipe being capped with a left pipe cap and the right vertical pipe being capped with a right pipe cap.

In some embodiments of the disclosure, optionally in combination with any or all embodiments of the disclosure, the left elbow fitting and the right elbow fitting further comprise fitting fasteners.

The right vertical, left vertical, or horizontal crossbars can be solid or tubal (pipe) and can be of any suitable material, wood, metal, ceramics, reinforced glass, glass fiber, synthetic material e.g., plastics.

Referring to the FIG. 1 , it shows an embodiment of the disclosed portable football field goal post. In this embodiment, a portable football field goal post includes: a left vertical crossbar 7, a right vertical crossbar 2, a top horizontal crossbar 4, a vertical gooseneck post 9, and a base, which includes a top base 11, a bottom base 10, and base fasteners 13. The left vertical crossbar 7 is connected to the top horizontal crossbar 4 via a left elbow fitting 6, the right vertical crossbar 2 is connected to the top horizontal crossbar 4 via a right elbow fitting 3, the top horizontal crossbar 4 is connected to the vertical gooseneck post 9 via a T-fitting 5, and the vertical gooseneck post 9 is attached to the base via base fasteners 12. In some embodiments, the left vertical crossbar 7 is capped with a cap (or a flag) 8, and the right vertical crossbar 2 is capped with a cap (or a flag) 1.

FIG. 2A shows another embodiment of embodiment of the disclosed portable football field goal post. FIGS. 2B-2D show a side view (FIG. 2B), a front view (FIG. 2C), and a top view (FIG. 2D) of this embodiment of the portable football field goal post. Additionally, FIG. 2D shows that the top horizontal crossbar 4 is parallel to the bottom base 10, the vertical gooseneck post 9 is configured to eclipse the top base 11 where the top base 11 has a horizontal dimension larger than that of the vertical gooseneck post 9 for the purpose of maintaining the stability of the portable football field goal post.

The left vertical crossbar, the right vertical crossbar, and/or the horizontal crossbar can be a singular structure or sectional structure. The sectional structure can be configured to be set, released or retracted manually or electrically. Ways to set, release or retract a sectional structure are well documented in the art.

FIG. 3 shows a portable football field goal post deployed at a school yard.

Methods of Fabrication

In another aspect, it is provided a method of fabricating a portable American football field goal post (the “football field goal post”), the method comprising:

providing a left vertical crossbar, a right vertical crossbar, a top horizontal crossbar, a vertical gooseneck post, and a base, and

forming the football field goal post.

In some embodiments of the method of disclosure, optionally in combination with any or all embodiments of the disclosure, the left vertical crossbar is connected to the top horizontal crossbar via a left elbow fitting, the right vertical crossbar is connected to the top horizontal crossbar via a right elbow fitting, the top horizontal crossbar is connected to the vertical gooseneck post via a T-fitting, and the vertical gooseneck post is attached to the base via base fasteners.

In some embodiments of the disclosed method, optionally in combination with any or all embodiments of the disclosure, the base comprises a top base and a bottom base, the top base and the bottom base are configured to have a shape of a cross, the top base and the bottom base are perpendicular to each other with one of the top base or bottom base being in parallel with the top horizontal crossbar and the top base and the bottom base each are perpendicular to the vertical gooseneck post.

In some embodiments of the disclosed method, optionally in combination with any or all embodiments of the disclosure, the base comprises three or four anchoring points configured to touch a ground or configured to be driven into a ground.

In some embodiments of the disclosed method, optionally in combination with any or all embodiments of the disclosure, the left vertical crossbar and the right vertical crossbar comprise vertical pipes, the left vertical pipe being capped with a left pipe cap and the right vertical pipe being capped with a right pipe cap.

In some embodiments of the disclosed method, optionally in combination with any or all embodiments of the disclosure, the left elbow fitting and the right elbow fitting further comprise fitting fasteners.

Examples

An example of the portable football field goal post is made according to FIG. 1 , described above. The various parts are provided below:

Part number Part name Qty 1 Right pipe cap 1 2 Right Vertical crossbar 1 3 Right elbow 1 4 Top horizontal crossbar 1 5 T fitting 1 6 Left elbow fitting 1 7 Top left vertical crossbar 1 8 Left pipe cap 1 9 Vertical gooseneck post 1 10 Bottom base 1 11 Top Base 1 12 M8 × 1.25 Base fasteners 4 13 M6 × 1 Fitting fasteners 6 14 M8 × 1.25 Base nuts 4

Of note, the dimensions provided in FIGS. 2B-2D are for illustration only and shall not be construed to limit the scope of the claims. Additionally, the disclosed portable football field goal post is for practice and play of a football game. No construction of any terms disclosed herein shall be made to obviate the purpose of the disclosed subject matter.

While the present invention has been described in terms of preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill that the spirit and scope of the invention is not limited to those embodiments, but extend to the various modifications and equivalents as defined in the appended claims.

Further, changes may be made in the construction, operation and arrangement of the various parts, elements, steps and procedures described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as described in the following claims. 

I claim:
 1. A portable American football field goal post (the “football field goal post”), comprising: a left vertical crossbar, a right vertical crossbar, a top horizontal crossbar, a vertical gooseneck post, and a base.
 2. The portable football field goal post according to claim 1, wherein the left vertical crossbar is connected to the top horizontal crossbar via a left elbow fitting, the right vertical crossbar is connected to the top horizontal crossbar via a right elbow fitting, the top horizontal crossbar is connected to the vertical gooseneck post via a T-fitting, and the vertical gooseneck post is attached to the base via base fasteners.
 3. The portable football field goal post according to claim 1, wherein the base comprises a top base and a bottom base, the top base and the bottom base are configured to have a shape of a cross, the top base and the bottom base are perpendicular to each other with one of the top base or bottom base being in parallel with the top horizontal crossbar and the top base and the bottom base each are perpendicular to the vertical gooseneck post.
 4. The portable football field goal post according to claim 1, wherein the base comprises three or four anchoring points configured to touch a ground or configured to be driven into a ground.
 5. The portable football field goal post according to claim 1, wherein the left vertical crossbar and the right vertical crossbar comprise vertical pipes, the left vertical pipe being capped with a left pipe cap and the right vertical pipe being capped with a right pipe cap.
 6. The portable football field goal post according to claim 1, wherein the left elbow fitting and the right elbow fitting further comprise fitting fasteners.
 7. A method of fabricating a portable American football field goal post (the “football field goal post”), the method comprising: providing a left vertical crossbar, a right vertical crossbar, a top horizontal crossbar, a vertical gooseneck post, and a base, and forming the football field goal post.
 8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the left vertical crossbar is connected to the top horizontal crossbar via a left elbow fitting, the right vertical crossbar is connected to the top horizontal crossbar via a right elbow fitting, the top horizontal crossbar is connected to the vertical gooseneck post via a T-fitting, and the vertical gooseneck post is attached to the base via base fasteners.
 9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the base comprises a top base and a bottom base, the top base and the bottom base are configured to have a shape of a cross, the top base and the bottom base are perpendicular to each other with one of the top base or bottom base being in parallel with the top horizontal crossbar and the top base and the bottom base each are perpendicular to the vertical gooseneck post.
 10. The method according to claim 7, wherein the base comprises three or four anchoring points configured to touch a ground or configured to be driven into a ground.
 11. The method according to claim 7, wherein the left vertical crossbar and the right vertical crossbar comprise vertical pipes, the left vertical pipe being capped with a left pipe cap and the right vertical pipe being capped with a right pipe cap.
 12. The method according to claim 7, wherein the left elbow fitting and the right elbow fitting further comprise fitting fasteners. 